Terry Carter

Making sure your ukulele is in tune is one of the most important steps to playing ukulele, yet is often overlooked by many players.

I’m amazed how many people either don’t know how to tune a ukulele or get up on stage to perform and their ukulele is out of tune. Nothing can kill a great performance as an out of tune ukulele.

Do you struggle with tuning? No worries, I got you covered.

In this article and video, I will show you the 5 steps needed to proper tune your ukulele.

Here are the 5 steps needed to successful tune your ukulele:

1. Know Your String Names
2. Have a Tuner
3. Understand When a Note is Sharp or Flat
4. Know Which Way to Turn the Tuning Pegs
5. Make Sure to Tune the Right Note.

Let’s dive into each step a little bit deeper.

Step 1: Know Your String Names

To know your string names, first you must know what kind of ukulele you have. The most common ukuleles are the soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles. The great thing about these 3 different sizes of ukuleles is that they all have the same string names.

The string names for the soprano, concert, and tenor ukulele going from the 1^st string (the string closest to the ground) to the 4^th string (the string closest to your face) are A – E – C – G.

To make sure we are clear the string names are:

• 1^st string is “A”
• 2^nd string is “E”
• 3^rd string is “C”
• 4^th string is “G”

This will be the same whether you’re playing a ukulele with a high G or a low G.

The baritone ukulele has different string names then the soprano, concert, and tenors. The string names are:

• 1^st string is “E”
• 2^nd string is “B”
• 3^rd string is “G”
• 4^th string is “D”

For this article and video, we will focus on the tuning for a soprano, concert, or tenor.

Also Read: Top 10 Sites For Online Ukulele Lessons For Beginners

Step 2: Have a Tuner

The 2 main ways to tune a ukulele are by ear and with a tuner. Although eventually you want to be able to tune your ukulele by ear, using a tuner is the quickest and most efficient thing to do.

The 3 most popular tuners are clip-on tuners, ukulele tuning apps, or traditional hand held tuners. I use and recommend the clip-on tuners, like the ones made by Snark, because they are accurate and can tune using the strings vibrations, which is great if you are in a crowded or noisy place.

Be wary of some of the free tuner apps, they are not always accurate. A good and free tuner app for iOS and Android is by GuitarTuna.

Also Read: Our Guide to the 5 Best Ukulele Tuners

Step 3: Understand When a Note is Sharp or Flat

Having a tuner does no good unless you know how to use it. Knowing how to use it means knowing when a note is sharp, flat, or in tune.

Flat is when a note is too low and needs to be raised up. When a note is flat the arrow on the tuner will go to the left of the note.

Sharp is when a note is too high and needs to be lowered. When a note is sharp the arrow on the tuner will go to the right of the note.

When a note is in tune the arrow of the tuner will go right to the center. Some tuners will beep when the note is in tune.

Also Read: 50 Easy Ukulele Songs for Beginners

Step 4: Know Which Way To Turn The Tuning Pegs

If a note is flat (too low), then you must raise the pitch. For the 3^rd and 4^th strings, the tuning pegs on top of the headstock, turn the tuning pegs counter clock-wise to raise the pitch. Keep turning counter clock-wise until the arrow reaches the center of the screen.

For the 1^st and 2^nd strings, the tuning pegs on the bottom of the headstock, turn the tuning pegs clockwise to raise the pitch. Keep turning clock-wise until the arrow reaches the center of the screen.

If a note is sharp (too high), you must lower the pitch and will turn the tuning pegs opposite compared to when the note is flat. For the 3^rd and 4^th strings, the tuning pegs on top of the headstock, turn the tuning peg clock-wise to lower the pitch.

For the 1^st and 2^nd strings, the tuning pegs on the bottom of the headstock, turn the tuning pegs clockwise to lower the pitch.

The goal for each note whether it is sharp or flat is to get the arrow to the center of the screen.

Also Read: Top 9 Ukulele Tutorial YouTube Channels

Step 5: Make Sure To Tune The Right Note

A common mistake is that people will use a tuner and think their ukulele is in tune, but it still sounds bad. This usually happens because they tuned the wrong note.

When your tuning the 1^st string, the “A” note, make sure the tuner says “A.” Sometimes people will tune the 1^st string and get the arrow to the center of the display, but the note will read “Ab” or “A#” or “G” or “B.” If this happens, even though you think you tuned the note correctly, the ukulele will sound off.

Always double check that if you are tuning the “A” string then the tuner reads “A”, if you are tuning the “E” string makes sure the tuner reads “E”, if you are tuning the “C” string make sure the tuner reads “C”, and if you are tuning the “G” string, make sure the tuner reads “G.”

Another common mistake when using a tuner is that you are not tuning to 440 Hz. Although not every tuner can change the Hz frequency, but if you can then set it to 440 Hz and then tune up.

Sometimes the handheld tuners, like the ones by Korg, make it too easy to change the Hz without even knowing about it. Although certain areas of the world will use something besides 440 Hz, it is a safe bet to start with 440 Hz and adjust if needed.

In Conclusion

Tuning a ukulele is an easy thing to do, but it does require some knowledge and some practice. If you follow the 5 steps outlined and practice you will became quick and accurate at tuning your ukulele.

Remember nothing can kill a great performance as bad as a ukulele that is out of tune. So, take a moment before you practice and perform and make sure your ukulele is in tune.

About the author:
Terry Carter, founder of Uke Like The Pros is a talented ukuleleist, guitarist, and songwriter with a Master of Music from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University. His online ukulele lessons are featured here. You can follow him on his social media accounts: youtube.com/ukelikethepros | instagram.com/ukelikethepros | facebook.com/ukelikethepros

Ready to Play Ukulele but Confused with All the Choices?

In this article, I will guide you through the different ukuleles sizes, how and why they sound different, and how to choose and ukulele that will work for you.

Size & Sound

First and foremost, there are many ukulele sizes and each produces a different sound. Here is a simple rule not only for ukuleles but for all musical instruments, the smaller the size of the body the higher sounding the timbre.

When I say higher timbre, I’m not referring to volume, although many of our ears perceive a higher timbre as sounding louder, but simply that a sound has more treble (higher timbre) or more bass (lower timbre).

For example, a soprano ukulele size, one of the smallest ukuleles, produces a high timbre because the body is so small.

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On the other hand, a baritone ukulele size, one of the larger ukuleles, produces a much deeper and low sound.

Different Ukulele Sizes

You may be asking, “How many different sizes of ukuleles are there?” Great question. Ukuleles come in many different sizes, colors, and shapes including:

• sopranino
• soprano
• super soprano
• concert
• pineapple
• tenor
• super tenor
• baritone
• bass

For today let’s keep it simple and concentrate on the 4 most popular ukuleles (from smallest to biggest): soprano, concert, tenor, baritone.

History of the Different Ukulele Sizes

The soprano ukulele, which is referred to as the “standard” was the original ukulele size and ordinated in the late 1800’s. The concert ukulele which is slightly bigger and deeper in sound developed in the 1920’s. Next came the tenor which produces even more volume and deeper tones and followed by the baritone in the 1940’s which is the loudest and deepest of them all.

How To Measure Ukulele Sizes

Today, there are many ukulele companies making many different sizes, shapes, and colors of ukuleles that it can be hard to know what size a ukulele is. The easiest way to determine the size of an ukulele is to measure it. How do you measure ukulele sizes? It’s simple, just measure the ukulele is from the bridge to the nut.

Here are the different ukuleles sizes in inches (in) and centimeters (cm):

• Soprano ukulele size is 13 in (33cm)
• Concert ukulele size is 15 in (38 cm)
• Tenor ukulele size is 17 in (43 cm)
• Baritone ukulele size is 19 in (48 cm)

Over time and with experience you’ll be able to tell the size of an ukulele just by seeing or holding it.

How To Choose A Ukulele Size

There are a few things you need to know when choosing an ukulele.

• First, the soprano, concert, and tenor ukuleles all use the same tuning: G – C – E – A. The baritone ukulele uses a different tuning: D – G – B – E.
  Unless you specifically know that you want or need a baritone ukulele, I would stick with the soprano, concert or tenor. Most of the ukulele lessons you find online or in books are written for the soprano, concert and tenor.
• Second, choose your ukulele that feels right for you. If your 6 foot 5 inches and have huge hands a soprano instrument will probably be a bit small for you. When you go to a ukulele store, simply pick up each ukulele and hold it, even if you don’t know what to do, and determine how it feels with your body and hand type.
• Third, determine what you want to do with the ukulele. If you just want to strum the chords to your favorite songs, then a soprano or concert ukulele will work great for you. If you goal is to play scales and move up and down the ukulele neck like Jake Shimabukuro, then a concert or tenor ukulele will work best for you. Remember that the smaller the ukulele size the smaller the neck which can limit what you can do with it.
• Fourth, the type of wood used to make your ukulele will determine its price. Traditionally ukuleles from Hawaii are made from Koa wood, which only grows on the Hawaiian Island. Although, Koa wood produces an amazing, warm, and rounded tone, it is expensive. Since the demand and price of Koa wood has sky rocketed you are seeing more ukuleles made from spruce, cedar, rosewood, acacia, and laminate. Many ukuleles that are under $200 will be made from a laminate wood. Even though an ukulele made from Koa and one made from laminate may look the same, they are not. You get what you pay for. Yes, to get started a $150 ukulele may look and sound great to you, but you will hear and feel the difference when you move up to a quality hand-made ukulele made by companies such as KoAloha, Kamaka, and Kanile’a. My suggestion is to buy the most expensive instrument that fits your budget.

This is a great time to be an ukulele player. The ukulele is extremely popular and lots of companies are making ukuleles, so they are easy to find and afford. Now that you are done with this article go get your ukulele and play.

About the author:
Terry Carter, founder of Uke Like The Pros is a talented ukuleleist, guitarist, and songwriter with a Master of Music from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University. His online ukulele lessons are featured here. You can follow him on his social media accounts: youtube.com/ukelikethepros | instagram.com/ukelikethepros | facebook.com/ukelikethepros

This is a guest post by Terry Carter, founder of Uke Like The Pros. Carter is a talented ukuleleist, guitarist, and songwriter with a Master of Music from University of Southern California and a Bachelor of Music from San Diego State University. His online ukulele lessons are featured here.

One of the hardest things to do as a ukulele player is to listen to a song and be able to identify the strum pattern that is being used. Students ask me time and time again, “Can you show me the strum pattern for this song?”

Many online resources will show you the chords and lyrics to your favorite songs, but rarely do they show you the strum pattern.

Finding the strum pattern for songs can be difficult since some songs use simple eighth notes patterns, while other songs use more complex sixteenth note patterns.

In my years of playing and teaching I have listened to, transcribed, and played thousands of songs and I have found something very interesting. There is one strum pattern that will work over all styles of music whether it’s Rock, Pop, Blues, Jazz, Christian, Hawaiian, or Country. By knowing this one strum pattern you can play almost any song that you want.

This strum pattern is so important that I call it the “Granddaddy Strum Pattern.”

 

This strum pattern uses quarter notes and eighth notes, but what makes it tricky is the “tie” that happens between the “+ of beat 2” and beat “3.” Make sure to practice it slowly and build the tempo up as you get more comfortable with it. Trust me once you get it you’ll be off and running playing your favorite songs and jamming with your friends.